This page is about Lettuceburn: why it exists, the rules it’s built on, and who makes it. The short version is that photo calorie tracking is genuinely useful, and it shouldn’t come with a big subscription, a cloud account that holds your food diary, or a streak that could cheer you on for skipping dinner.
Why Lettuceburn exists
Snapping a photo of your meal is one of the quickest ways to keep a food log. In March 2026, MyFitnessPal announced it had acquired Cal AI, one of the best-known photo calorie apps. As of October 2026, MyFitnessPal lists Meal Scan, its photo logging feature, and barcode scanning as part of its paid Premium plan, and Cal AI’s website offers a free trial that leads into a subscription.
There’s nothing wrong with charging for software. But photo logging was turning into one more monthly bill. Lettuceburn takes a different route: a free lane that stays free, and a paid option only for people who want the convenience.
It also tries to get something quieter right. It’s easy for a tracking app to treat a lower number as a better day, with a cheer for coming in under and a warning for going over. That’s a design choice, and it’s one we don’t make.
What we believe
These four principles shape every feature in the app.
A free lane, forever
Bring your own AI key and every feature is free, and stays free for as long as Lettuceburn is offered. You pay the AI provider a few cents or less per scan, directly. Pro exists for people who’d rather not manage a key, and it sells only that. Nothing else is gated. The details are on the pricing page.
Local-first
Your food log, photos, weight and nutrition data are stored on your phone, not on our servers. You don’t need to sign up. Pro and the Friends League use an anonymous ID; signing in with Apple or Google is optional and just links that ID to your Apple or Google account, so Pro and the Friends League can follow you to a new phone.
Totals come from ingredients
When the AI looks at your meal, it lists each ingredient with an estimated portion. Your meal’s total is always the sum of those ingredients, never a separate number the AI makes up. That way the list and the total can’t disagree, and you can see exactly where every calorie came from and change it. The how it works page walks through it step by step.
Nothing rewards eating less
Streaks count the days you log. Achievements reward balanced days within a range and enough protein. Insights report a week under your target as a fact, not a win. Adaptive targets never drop below a safety floor. And the share card never shows a calorie or weight number. Calorie numbers are information, not a grade.
Who’s behind it
Lettuceburn is made by Milos Radojcic, its founder. Milos designed and built the app, and writes the Lettuceburn blog. Milos isn’t a dietitian or a doctor, so the blog is written as an informed builder who links to the research and to health experts, rather than as a clinician giving advice.
Lettuceburn is coming soon to iPhone and Android. Questions, ideas or press requests are welcome through the contact page.
Be there on day one
Join the waitlist and we’ll let you know when Lettuceburn is ready.